Advance Care Planning for Māori: End of Life Planning in NZ
Advance care planning in te ao Māori means more than a will. Learn how to document burial wishes, appoint an executor, and prevent family disputes before a death.
Blog
All articles about Maori Tangihanga Guide (New Zealand).
Alternatives to Hiring a Funeral Director for a Māori Tangihanga
Explore alternatives to full-service funeral directors for a tangihanga in New Zealand. DIY transport, natural body preparation, community-led approaches, and when you still need professional help.
Bank Account Frozen After Death in NZ: How to Access Money for Funeral Costs
NZ banks freeze accounts after death, but there are ways to access funds for funeral expenses. Learn the bank release process, KiwiSaver claims, and payment options.
Bereavement Leave NZ: Why Three Days Is Not Enough for Tangihanga
NZ law provides three days of paid bereavement leave, but a tangihanga typically spans three to five days. Your options for extended leave, and what employers should know.
Best Tangihanga Resource for Urban Māori Families Away From Their Marae
The best tangihanga planning resource for urban Māori families who grew up away from their ancestral marae and need cultural guidance for their first funeral coordination.
Flowers, Condolence Cards, and Gifts at a Tangihanga
Wondering what to bring to a Māori funeral? Learn about flowers, koha, condolence cards in te reo Māori, and how to offer meaningful support at a tangihanga.
How to Plan a Tangihanga Without Family Marae Connections
Step-by-step guidance for planning a Māori tangihanga when your family has no active marae affiliation. Covers finding a marae, alternative venues, and adapting protocols.
Hura Kōhatu Ceremony: Māori Headstone Unveiling Guide
What happens at a hura kōhatu (Māori headstone unveiling), when to hold it, what it costs, and the protocols for organising this final memorial ceremony.
Karakia for Tangihanga: Prayers and Chants at a Māori Funeral
The essential karakia used throughout a tangihanga — from tuku wairua at the moment of death to cleansing prayers after burial. What each one does and when it happens.
Karanga, Hongi, and Manuhiri Arrival at a Tangihanga
Learn how the karanga opens the pōwhiri, how visiting groups (manuhiri) enter a marae during a tangihanga, and how to perform the hongi greeting respectfully.
Kirimate and Whānau Pani Responsibilities at a Tangihanga
The kirimate (whānau pani) carry the heaviest grief at a tangihanga. Learn their culturally mandated role, what they must not do, and how modern realities have shifted the burden.
Koha Etiquette at a Tangi: How Much to Give and How to Present It
How koha works at a Māori tangi — how much to give, how it's formally presented during the pōwhiri, and what never to do with your donation.
Choosing a Funeral Director for Tangihanga in New Zealand
How to choose a funeral director who understands tangihanga protocols — key questions to ask, negotiating costs, and when whānau-led care is the better option.
Māori Mourning Period and Kawe Mate Protocol
How long Māori mourning lasts, what happens after the burial, and the kawe mate tradition of carrying the deceased's photo to other marae over subsequent months.
Māori Tangihanga in Australia: Repatriation and Diaspora Options
How to bring a body or ashes home from Australia to NZ for tangihanga — repatriation costs, biosecurity rules, holding a tangi in Australia, and diaspora adaptations.
Māori Marae Protocol at a Tangihanga: Pōwhiri Steps for Visitors
A step-by-step guide to marae protocol during a tangihanga — from gathering at the waharoa to the karanga, walking onto the marae ātea, and the hongi greeting.
Tangihanga for Non-Māori Partners, Interfaith Families, and Blended Whānau
Planning a tangihanga when the family is blended, interfaith, or includes non-Māori members? Learn how to honour tikanga while navigating mixed cultural expectations.
Pākehā Attending a Tangi: Marae Protocol and Pōwhiri Steps
A practical guide for non-Māori attending a tangi for the first time — marae entry protocol, pōwhiri steps, hongi, seating, and how to show respect without overstepping.
Preparing a Tūpāpaku at Home: Māori Body Preparation and Embalming Rules NZ
Embalming is not legally required in New Zealand. How whānau can prepare a tūpāpaku at home — washing, dressing, eco-friendly preservation, and the legal paperwork involved.
Questions to Ask Kaumātua and the Marae Committee Before a Tangihanga
Don't guess the local kawa. Here are the exact questions to ask kaumātua, the marae committee, and the minister before a tangihanga begins.
Ringawera Duties at a Tangihanga: What the Kitchen Crew Actually Does
Ringawera are the backbone of every tangihanga. Learn what the kitchen crew handles, why their role carries such mana, and how the hākari feast works.
Common Mistakes at a Tangihanga and How to Avoid Them
The most frequent tangihanga mistakes — from food in the wharenui to koha protocol errors — their consequences, and the correct actions to take instead.
How Much Does a Māori Funeral Cost? Tangihanga Costs and DIY Options NZ
A breakdown of tangihanga costs in New Zealand — marae hire, catering, caskets, burial — plus DIY alternatives like building your own coffin and family-led transport.
Tangihanga Planning Guide vs Free Government Bereavement Resources in New Zealand
Compare the Māori Tangihanga Guide against free NZ government resources like Te Hokinga ā Wairua and Citizens Advice Bureau. What each covers, what each misses, and who needs what.
Tangihanga Planning Guide vs Hiring a Funeral Director: Which Do You Need?
Compare using a tangihanga planning guide versus hiring a funeral director for a Māori funeral. Covers costs, cultural competence, and when each option makes sense.
Tangihanga Sleeping Arrangements: Staying Overnight at the Marae
Planning to stay overnight at a marae during a tangihanga? Learn the sleeping rules, bedding etiquette, tapu restrictions, and what to bring for an overnight stay.
Tapu and Noa at a Tangihanga: Food Rules, Photo Rules, and Wharenui Taboos
The tapu and noa rules at a Māori tangihanga — why food is banned from the wharenui, photo restrictions, pillow protocols, and the spiritual logic behind each prohibition.
Tikanga vs Kawa: Understanding the Difference at a Tangihanga
Tikanga and kawa are not interchangeable. Learn how shared Māori values (tikanga) differ from location-specific marae rules (kawa) and why it matters at a tangi.
Tiki Tūpāpaku and Hikina Te Wairua: Body Request Ceremonies at a Tangihanga
When tribes contest where a body should rest, tiki tūpāpaku and hikina te wairua resolve the dispute through ritual. Learn how these ceremonies work and what they mean.
Urupā Burial Rules in NZ: Ancestral Māori Cemetery Protocols
Urupā are sacred ancestral cemeteries governed by strict tikanga. Learn the burial rules, entry restrictions, cremation policies, and how to arrange burial in an urupā.
Whaikōrero at a Tangihanga: How Formal Speeches Work at a Māori Funeral
Whaikōrero are the formal speeches that structure a tangihanga. Learn who speaks, when, and the oratory protocols that govern welcoming visitors at a tangi.
Whakanoa and Spiritual Cleansing After a Māori Funeral
Whakanoa, takahi whare, and the cleansing rituals after a tangihanga — what each ceremony involves, who performs it, and why it's essential before normal life resumes.
What to Wear to a Tangi: Dress Code and Etiquette
What to wear to a Māori tangi — dress code rules, what to bring, shoes and hats protocol inside the wharenui, and behaviour etiquette for first-time attendees.